The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) is a conservative non-profit organization whose stated mission is to "support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives a philosophically rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price."ACTA does so primarily by calling on trustees to take on a more assertive governing role. It is based in Washington, D.C. and its current president is Michael Poliakoff.
Background: The omohyoid muscle (OM) is traditionally regarded as a minor infrahyoid depressor of the hyoid bone and is routinely transected during neck surgery. However, its functional significance remains poorly defined. The course of the OM may contribute to more functions than solely hyoid depression. This scoping review aimed to critically evaluate the existing evidence concerning the anatomy, function, anatomical variations, evolutionary origin, and hemodynamic relevance of the OM. Methods: A PRISMA-ScR-guided search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE was conducted up to May 2025 using the term "omohyoid." Studies examining anatomy, muscle activity, anatomical variations, clinical manifestations, evolutionary development, and relationships with the internal jugular vein were included. Results: Forty-one studies met inclusion criteria. Fourteen addressed functional aspects, whereas twenty-three focused on anatomical anomalies. Functional investigations were limited and largely indirect. Five studies investigated the evolution of the OM. Electromyographic and ultrasonographic studies suggest that the superior belly contributes to hyoid stabilization, while the inferior belly is activated during neck flexion and increased inspiratory effort, without systematically evaluated functional consequences, even when this belly is transected, missing, or existed as an anomaly. Three case reports described pathological compression of the internal jugular vein by the OM. Overall, evidence regarding its role in cervical fascial tension and venous configuration remains limited. Conclusions: A discrepancy exists between routine surgical transection of the OM and the limited functional evidence supporting its presumed insignificance. The potential role of the inferior belly in modulating deep cervical fascia and protecting IJV patency warrants further investigation.
Integrating itinerant grazing by ruminants, particularly sheep, into cereal-growing systems raises new territorial planning issues. While the potential benefits are numerous - soil fertility, reduced inputs, local meat outlets - there are still many obstacles to overcome: logistics, stakeholder coordination, access to plots. This article defends the idea that a territorial planning tool, integrating an enriched cartographic base, grazing simulation modules and collaborative functionalities, could be a lever to support these systems. The tool, inspired by the Ovi'Plaine prototype, would help anticipate technical constraints, optimize grazing circuits and pool resources. It is part of a systemic and territorial approach to agroecology, where cooperation between livestock farmers, cereal growers and land managers is key. Beyond the technical aspect, this tool would serve as a support for the dialogue, negotiation and collective resilience proposed here. The author calls for the development of a functional prototype as part of a structuring R&D project.
